Advertise on podcast: America the Bilingual

It took many years, but finally Maja Thomas, a top publishing executive who has been at the forefront of audiobooks, e-books and digital publishing strategy, finally made her dream of always having Paris come true. She has become an English/French bilingual, embracing not just the French language but its culture. Just how did she do it (despite the plethora of French bureaucratic paperwork)? For one thing, she isn’t afraid to correct her mistakes in speaking her beloved adopted language. Episode 81 of the America the Bilingual podcast, “She’s Always Had Paris,” is now live.

“The whole idea of language learning is saying things wrong until you begin to say them right.” That’s Steve Leveen, founder of America the Bilingual, diving deeper into three new perspectives he encourages adult language learners to adopt. He also shares details of the new Levenger Master Class workbook, How to Learn a Language for Life, that he and multilingual entrepreneur Akshay Swaminathan, cowrote. Episode 80 of the America the Bilingual podcast, You Can Finally Learn That Next Language You’ve Been Thirsting to Speak, is now live. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed the episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music credits, in order of appearance: Soft and furious - Super connected sleep https://bit.ly/3rN902r Kevin Macleod - Quasimotion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Soft and furious - What’s your name again https://bit.ly/456BynS Lloyd Rogers - Twelve from the black book https://bit.ly/44uduv4 Peter Gresser - Skipping in the no standing zone https://bit.ly/49bUZOw Fernando Air-Nandez - You live the language Loyalty Freak Music - Everything is so alive https://bit.ly/3MYSPJu

“I've never learned how to say no properly in my life, to prepare myself properly for things. I just figured if I kept saying yes to things, eventually something good would happen.” For Mark Ford, not saying no has allowed him to do some of the most important things in his life. Which is why it became easy—in his heterodox fashion—for him to learn first French, then Latin, and now Spanish. The Spanish is the result of his building an award-winning resort in Nicaragua and the community foundation he created right across the road, which has become an education and trades hub for the non-English-speaking local people. The French gave him entrée to the Peace Corps after college. But only because the officials didn’t give him the boot for not knowing a word of it when he landed in French-speaking Chad. The Latin was to meet a PhD requirement. Although let’s just say that the former altar boy in him might have frowned on his modus operandi. But he’s forgiven for that, because good things for many people have happened thanks to his determination to embrace other languages. In this lively conversation with Steve, Mark also shares his secret for learning a language. And you won’t have to crack open an app to do it. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, the editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed the episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music credits (in order of appearance): HoliznaCC0 - Whatever https://bit.ly/4qDgZsk Koi Discovery - Beer blues https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion HoliznaCC0 - ICE temple https://bit.ly/4qHGb1c HoliznaCC0 - Sunny afternoon https://bit.ly/47vvyp9 HoliznaCC0 - Unwind https://bit.ly/3X4hb6m Koi-discovery - END https://bit.ly/4qDhLFK HoliznaCC0 - Laundry on the wire https://bit.ly/3Jc8R1p Wax lyricist - Green https://bit.ly/4qA7c6s Koi-discovery -Synthetic_synapse https://bit.ly/4oOlxup

Professor/publisher/author/OED consultant Ilan Stavans has written books about all three of the languages he speaks: his native Mexican Spanish, his heritage Yiddish, and his adopted English. In Episode 78, Ilan and Steve have a far-ranging conversation that touches on how American literature is becoming multilingual literature, why prescriptive dictionaries don’t work for English, and the secret to seeing your children embrace the language of their heritage. Listen and you’ll soon know why America the Bilingual has dubbed him a Tocqueville for bilingualism in America. Enjoy! Music credits, in order of appearance: HoliznaCC0 - Tranquil Mindscape ( Lofi , Happy , Reflection ) https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/tranquil-mindscape-lofi-happy-reflection/ U.S. Army Blues - Kelli's Number https://freemusicarchive.org/music/US_Army_Blues/Live_At_Blues_Alley/0_-_08_-_The_US_Army_Blues_-_Kellis_Number/ John Bartmann - African Moon https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/african-moon/ John Bartmann - Somewhere nice https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/somewhere-nice/ HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute Meditation 1 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/space-sleep-meditation/20-minute-meditation-1/ U.S. Army Blues - Oginiland https://freemusicarchive.org/music/US_Army_Blues/Live_At_Blues_Alley/0_-_06_-_The_US_Army_Blues_-_Oginiland/ Komiku - In the restaurant https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/THE_GIRL_WITH_THE_BASEBALL_BAT/Komiku_-_THE_GIRL_WITH_THE_BASEBALL_BAT_-_03_In_the_restaurant/ Koi-discovery - Oxforf by Night https://freemusicarchive.org/music/koi-discovery/ante-chrysalide/oxforf-by-nightmp3/

The multilingual Esteban Battalán, principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass, shares how his language odyssey has sounded important notes in his music odyssey. Hear his story on Episode 77 of the America the Bilingual podcast, “A Trumpeter’s Tale.” America the Bilingual is a project of the Levenger Foundation, which supports bilingualism and biliteracy in the Americas. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed this episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music performed by Mr. Batallán is from these recordings: Haydn Trumpet Concerto in Eb, Nightfall, and Premiere,“Mr. Batallán.” Further details on estebanbatallan.com/videos. Additional music, in order of appearance Koi Discovery - Beer blues https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi Illinois Brass Band - Wright, Tam O'Shanter's Ride https://bit.ly/4iGDOXc CSO Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny - Schifrin's Tuba Concerto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG4lZ-2zWao Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Frederic Lardon Feat Laura Palme - Dans la méditation transcendantale https://bit.ly/3PsIzaE Monplaisir - Jam with me https://bit.ly/3EO0o23 Esteban Batallan - Hummel trumpet concerto 1st Movement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXV7V4ipl1s&t=1s

The conventional description of someone who speaks as many languages as Akshay Swaminathan does is “polyglot.” But as you’ll quickly hear when you listen to this episode, there’s nothing conventional about how this Knight-Hennessy scholarship recipient and PD Soros fellow approaches languages. There is, however, a solid commitment to use what he’s learned about learning languages to help other adults learn, too. His new, virtual language workouts focus on speaking fluently in the language you’re learning, and getting there quickly. Episode 76 of the America the Bilingual podcast is now live! Music Credits: HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute Meditation 1 https://bit.ly/492XPlN Nomadic - Pictures of the floating world https://bit.ly/3RyMxjV Kevin MacLeod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Sam Natarajan (Akshay’s father), thiruppAvai #01 and #02 - nAttai and gowLa.m2ts https://bit.ly/40q8xln Komiku - Helice’s theme https://bit.ly/425trHy Loyalty Freak Music - Waiting TTTT https://bit.ly/3HEwICx Ghanam Krishna Iyer, Thiruvotriyur Thyagarajan -Atana- Rupakam, performed by Shreyas Muralidharan and Akshay Swaminathan https://bit.ly/4gRhCtm Frederic Lardon Feat Laura Palme - Dans la méditation transcendantale https://bit.ly/3PsIzaE HoliznaCC0 - Sky Scrapers https://bit.ly/4j9T2W4

Meet Margaret Boyle, coauthor with Ilan Stavans of “Sabor Judío: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook”. Margaret and Ilan have added their own ingredient to the cookbook: the history behind many of the recipes, some of them their families’, others the history of Jewish immigration to Mexico over the centuries. If you’re a foodie, find history fascinating, or would like to sample the Spanish language through the culinary fusion of Jewish and Mexican cultures, quench your appetite now with Episode 75 of the America the Bilingual podcast. Thanks to our America the Bilingual team who worked on this episode: Mim Harrison, our editorial and brand director, who wrote and directed it; Fernando Hernandez Becerra, who produced the episode from his studio in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esta No Es Radio; and Jen Cavañaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music credits in order of appearance: John Bartmann - Somewhere nice https://bit.ly/3ZqUpGv Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion John Bartmann - Bouncy Gypsy Beats https://bit.ly/4aR7RZv Demoiselle Döner - Autodétermination - Free Music Archive https://bit.ly/3OeUzM2 Komiku - In the restaurant https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs Pictures of the floating world - Nomadic https://bit.ly/3LVlpYV Monplaisir - J A https://bit.ly/3uNedIT TRG Banks - Horse ride 2 https://bit.ly/3LRPuZv Holizna CC0 - 20 minute meditation 1 https://bit.ly/492XPlN John Bartmann - Bouncy Gypsy Beats https://bit.ly/4aR7RZv

The United States leads the world in bilingualism. No kidding. Because of this, no country understands the world as well as the United States. Seriously. Ah, you may be thinking, there must be a catch. No catch—just a different way to understand the uncontested data that’s been accumulating for decades. So…how did we get here, and how might we use this newly unveiled status to the betterment of the country? In this episode, America the Bilingual founder Steve Leveen takes you through the history, context and science that have led him to this realization of America’s leadership role in bilingualism. Whether or not you’re bilingual, you’ll want to hear this good news for America. Thanks to our America the Bilingual team: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director, and early advocate of quizzes as a way to enliven ideas; Fernando Hernandez Becerra, who produced this episode from his studio in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio; Alli Torban, who designed the data visuals in the quiz; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music and sounds in order of appearance by: Monplaisir - Be a good punk https://bit.ly/3Xe2z4f Anthousai - 23cm glass bowl - tone - cloth mallet 02.wav https://bit.ly/3MsBh5d License: Creative Commons 0 Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Monplaisir - Garage https://bit.ly/3XbPokd Stomachache - Take me Out to the Ball Game by stomachache -- https://bit.ly/3z65vb4 -- License: Creative Commons 0 Nikitralala - korea_baseball.flac by nikitralala -- https://bit.ly/3MuT23J -- License: Creative Commons 0 Tylermyers1992 - MLB Crowd Cheer - 09032022.wav https://bit.ly/3MsL3Ev -- License: Creative Commons 0 The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps - United States National Anthem (The Star Spangled Banner) https://bit.ly/3Mx7RTi The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps - Reveille Variation/Drum Call/Slow Scotch/Quick Scotch/Yankee Doodle/Mont.... https://bit.ly/3Tf4Qei Komiku - De l'herbe sous les pieds https://bit.ly/3z66eJk Komiku - In the restaurant https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs Komiku - Beach https://bit.ly/4e8qEjH Komiku - Where you hear the prayer (McGuffin theme) https://bit.ly/4g1ZyMS Komiku - Everything is groovy (how to move your body) https://bit.ly/3xejA4I Komiku - The road we use to travel when we were kids https://bit.ly/47fG2Zw

While the whole world does not speak English, it’s nevertheless a ubiquitous language worldwide. Is that a good thing or bad? Or is it, perhaps, more complicated than that? Professor Rosemary Salomone, both linguist and lawyer, knows how to answer this question perhaps better than anyone. In this episode, she and Steve discuss her newest book, The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language, where she takes readers around the world to see just what kind of a global player English really is. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed this episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music Credits, in order of appearance Koi - discovery - beer blues https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion TRG Banks - evening journey https://bit.ly/4bzZZur Holizna cc0 - advertisements https://bit.ly/4eTrXEl Soft and furious - you’re magic https://bit.ly/3LjJYhq Soft and furious - game on https://bit.ly/3VUuRjz Koi Discovery - Spike protein https://bit.ly/3S1leya Wax liricyst - big green https://freemusicarchive.org/music/wax-lyricist/the-wax-lyricist/big-green/ He can jog - Prelude (Two Hour Delay, Dane County) https://bit.ly/3zBaq3G Soft and furious - When the blood driving the self https://bit.ly/4aaMt0H Maarten Schellekens - free classical theme https://bit.ly/4cXxSXj

Hear why Kim Potowski, a professor of linguistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has a passion for preserving heritage languages, and how she teaches speakers of these languages. De-stigmatizing the way that a Spanish bilingual speaks his or her home language, in Kim’s view, “is a question of social justice.” Listen now to Episode 72 of America the Bilingual. MUSIC CREDITS Komiku - In the restaurant https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Loyalty Freak Music - Waiting TTTT https://bit.ly/3HEwICx John Bartmann - Heart of acceptance https://bit.ly/JohnBartmann_Heartofacceptance Frederic Lardon feat. Laura Palmeé - Dans la piscine https://bit.ly/3xiKf0I Koi-discovery - Oxforf by night https://bit.ly/3xn39Ua

Want to know what really goes into that Subway® sandwich? Localization. Internationalization. And one more: transcreation. Hear how Subway’s Carrie Fischer is making languages part of Subway’s linguistic palate worldwide, in this new episode of the America the Bilingual podcast. This episode was written and directed by Mim Harrison, the editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual project. It was sound designed, mixed and produced by Fernando Hernandez Becerra produced. Karla Hernandez at Daruma Tech manages our website. Music credits: Komiku - Hélice’s theme https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/Helice_Awesome_Dance_Adventure_/helices-theme/ Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion TRG Banks - City https://bit.ly/43pM2g4 Komiku - Everything is groovy (how to move your body) https://bit.ly/3xejA4I HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute meditation 1 https://bit.ly/492XPlN TRG Banks - Horse ride 2 https://bit.ly/3LRPuZv Komiku - In the restaurant https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs Soft and the furious - Superconnected sleep https://bit.ly/3rN902r Wax Lyricist - A bad death https://bit.ly/3WbFwG7 Kai Engel - Holiday gift https://bit.ly/3TL05cX

The American journalist, linguist, and author Michael Erard (Babel No More) has lived in South America, Asia, and now in Europe. He’s always had an ear to the native languages as much as for them. A deep researcher of language, he shares in this episode why he believes that “human beings are meant to have very complex linguistic systems in their brains.” He also explains why he likens learning a language to weaving a rope. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team who worked on this episode: Fernando Hernández, writer for this episode, and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project; and Karla Hernandez at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Meet the entire America the Bilingual team—including our bark-lingual mascot, Chet—here. Music in this episode, in sequence: Demoiselle Döner, - Des têtes trop pleines https://bit.ly/421rrhp John Bartmann - African Moon https://bit.ly/47Avvqe Kevin Macleod - QuasiMotion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Loyalty Freak Music - Waiting TTTT https://bit.ly/3HEwICx TRG Banks - Michael Landon https://bit.ly/47ytYkp TRG Banks - Horse Ride 2 https://bit.ly/3LRPuZv Jorge Mario Zuleta - En Detención https://bit.ly/JMZ_detencion John Bartmann - Bouncy Gypsy Beats https://bit.ly/4aR7RZv

The 20th-century novelist Thomas Wolfe famously pronounced that “you can’t go home again.” But what if you have little choice? This is what a number of Latino immigrants, who have long made their home in the US, face when immigration laws require that they return to their country of birth. In this episode of the America the Bilingual podcast, Alexandra Rivera relays how an Uber driver in Mexico City startled her into realizing that these were important stories to be told. And even though she is a US citizen, she has faced her own challenges in balancing life in America as a Latina. She understands how important it is to find your place in wherever you may choose to—or have to—call home. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team who worked on this episode: Fernando Hernández, writer for this episode, and his Mexican production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, and Karla Hernandez at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.

Join Steve for a lively, upbeat and often surprising conversation with first-generation Chinese American Amy Chua. A Yale law professor who gained fame as the Tiger Mom, she made sure that her children grew up as she did: bilingual. Listen as Amy describes three traits American immigrants share that help them excel. She also explains what the reviewers got wrong about her controversial bestseller “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” and explores how American bilingualism could bolster what Amy’s parents taught her was “just the greatest document in the world”: the American Constitution. Plus: why Amy’s newest book is nothing like her others. Join us now for this episode of America the Bilingual. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Fernando Hernández and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project who wrote and directed this episode; and Karla Hernandez at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music artists and selections, in order of listening: HoliznaCC0 - Dream pop https://bit.ly/3ZNXhx4 Loyalty Freak Music - Friend to friend https://bit.ly/3 iMYXWs Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Loyalty Freak Music - Shoepop https://bit.ly/3RMh9yM Pictures of the floating world - Nomadic https://bit.ly/3LVlpYV Loyalty Freak Music - One cool minute https://bit.ly/42WvMlk TRG Banks - Horse ride 2 https://bit.ly/3LRPuZv Soft and furious - Superconnected sleep https://bit.ly/3rN902r John Bartmann - Secret agent rock https://bit.ly/3ZMr0X8

Call him señor Mo. That’s what Mohamed Kilani’s third-to-fifth grade students in Falmouth, Maine, call him. Mohamed is an Iraqi by birth, a Jordanian by virtue of war, and now an American by virtue of a selfless and brave mother. Listen to this Arab refugee’s odyssey of finding home and the many languages he speaks that have played a role. Among them: Spanish, which señor Mo delights in teaching his young Maine students. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team who worked on this episode: Fernando Hernández and his Mexican production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who also wrote and directed this episode; and Karla Hernandez at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music in this episode, in order of appearance by John Bartmann - Somewhere nice https://bit.ly/3ZqUpGv Kevin MacLeod - Quasi motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Monplaisir - 66666666 https://bit.ly/3Rt4dxM Kai Engel - Wake up https://bit.ly/45Xu9Wy Jason Shaw - River Meditation https://bit.ly/48iOY0f Kevin MacLeod - Back vibes clean https://bit.ly/3sYnYmD